As you say Garen, back where we started. Where was Glorfindel? It is the wisdom of Gandalf that persuades Elrond to send Merry and Pippin along, instead of Glorfindel, after all.
Perhaps Tolkien thought that having a wise warrior leader such as Glorfindel as part of the fellowship would detract too much from Aragorn and his journey into kingship. There can be only one leader for the fellowship.
It would have satisfied our curiosity if Tolkien had been more explicit about Galadriel, Celeborn and Thranduil's actions in ridding Lorien and Mirkwood of the Orcs.
I choose to believe that Glorfindel was there with them, just as I choose to believe that Elladan and Elrohir sailed into the West after their sister died...but that thread has already been covered
